My Saving Grace

Chapter 23

I'd woken long before Antonio and simply lay there watching as he slept soundly. Initially, I'd been crushed to his chest, so I had to wriggle away slightly to have some room to breathe. With his arm draped over my stomach, he felt like a warm, giant teddy bear.

Even in sleep, he wore a frown on his lips, and his features were tense, just like the first time I'd met him. Going into this relationship probably wasn't easy for him—for all I knew, he could be carrying a mistrust of women after the stunt Veronica had pulled, in addition to his guilt. But he was willing to take the risk because he trusted me, and that was more than I could ever ask for.

There was no denying it. I was irrevocably in love with Antonio Rossi.

During my college years, I'd witnessed couples throwing that word around while cheating behind each other's backs. "Love" was nothing but an empty, meaningless word without merit—actions that truly displayed it. I had never been in love before, but I sure as hell knew what it entailed.

The marriage my parents had was the epitome of love. And that was what I wanted for myself and Antonio. When the time was right, I'd tell him how I felt, but for now, I'd spend our days together showing him.

"Sophia?", he murmured groggily, and I snapped out of my thoughts, feeling him stir next to me.

"Morning, sleepyhead." I pressed a kiss over his heart.

"Good morning to you, too." He smiled lazily at me.

"This feels nice. Waking up next to you."

"Mhmm. You know, we forgot to use a condom yesterday," he drawled. His fingertips grazed my throat, sending a shiver of delight through me.

"I'm on the pill."

He wrinkled a brow.

"You're the first woman I've taken without a condom since..."

"Veronica," I finished.

"Yeah...since her," his voice drifted off.

"Wow, I must be special," I said with a sardonic laugh. I couldn't help but act bitchy at the mention of his hateful fiancée.

He sighed, propping himself up on one elbow as he gazed intently at me.

"You are special, Sophia. Don't let Veronica get in between us. I promise, neither you or I will ever have to see her in this lifetime."

I simply nodded my head.

"Do I need to fuck that frown off of your pretty face?", he jested.

I playfully elbowed him in the ribs, biting back a smile. Knowing Antonio, he could very much be serious.

"There's my girl," he said warmly, his eyes twinkling with mirth as he pulled me into his arms. Perhaps a bit too tightly.

"You're crushing me." My voice was muffled against his toned chest.

"Shit, sorry." He gave me a lopsided grin, loosening his hold. "Tell me something."

"Mhmm."

"What was it like growing up with just your father and brother around? Did you ever feel male-trapped?"